“You can check into their backgrounds to confirm they were a couple. Look for photos in their class yearbook,” Marla finished telling him her tale. “I’m wondering if Rose fits the timeline when they were together.”
“You think she’s Ripari’s child?”
“It makes sense. Vicki had a bitter edge to her tone. Maybe she moved here to present Rose to him. It’s possible he’d had no idea Vicki had gotten pregnant, especially if they graduated and lost track of each other.”
“That’s assuming Vicki had her own reasons for not confronting him sooner. Why now?”
“Maybe she married another man in the interim. She could be single again. Or she wanted to stake a claim on Rose’s behalf for his estate, seeing as how he had no other heirs.”
Dalton scrunched the empty candy wrapper in his hand. “You don’t think she was involved in the murder, do you?”
“I wouldn’t discount her. Both she and Rose were at the haunted house that night.”
“Okay, so where do we go from here?”
Marla warmed under his affectionate perusal. She appreciated how he sought her opinions so readily now. “Vicki mentioned Patrick, a student whom Mr. Ripari was tutoring. She’s the second person who’s suggested I talk to the guy. He hangs out at a diner after school on weekdays. I’ll go on Monday, and I can ask about Maya when I’m there.”
“If the teacher rejected that girl, she’d have reason to resent him.”
“We’ll add her to the list. It would help if you touched base with the lead investigator to see if he’ll share his progress.”
“I’ll give him a call during the week,” Dalton said. “He can probably use some of the info we’ve gathered, plus he might have insights into these people’s backgrounds.”
By the end of the day, they each had their assignments. Brie would see what she could learn from the other students at school. Marla would join her after classes on Monday at the local hangout. And Dalton would continue his research into town records regarding the Conroy family. He’d also speak to the detective in charge of Ripari’s case.
They stopped for dinner at a favorite restaurant before driving home. As Dalton turned into the driveway, he pointed to the front door.
“What’s that on our stoop?”
“Where?” Marla peered out the window, but the sky had darkened and she couldn’t see clearly. They hadn’t expected to be home so late.
“I can’t tell from here. Maybe it’s a package. Are either of you expecting a delivery?”
“Not me,” Brianna piped in from the back seat.
Curious to see what he’d spotted, Marla walked over as soon as he’d parked. She stopped under the porch light and sucked in a sharp breath.
A salon head lay face-up on the tile. Marla recognized the mannequin head as the same kind she bought for work. She used them to try new hair colors and styles.
This one’s brunette hair and brown eyes looked eerily similar to hers, except this model had a knife stuck in its right eye.
She put a hand to her throat. “Dalton, you’d better come and see this,” she hollered.
The dogs barked from inside the house as she felt time slowing. Fixated by the object, she couldn’t move. Who would do this to her? The sender must have come by their place while they were at dinner.
“Good Lord,” Dalton said, upon noting the item.
Brianna skidded to a halt beside him. “Ugh, what is that thing?”
“It’s the same type of head I experiment on in my salon. Do you think the person’s prints might be on that knife handle?” Marla asked in a detached voice, as though this were happening to someone else. “I recognize its reddish tint. It looks like the same knife that killed Mr. Ripari.”
“Don’t touch anything. I’ll get my evidence kit.” Dalton loped off toward the garage.
“Let the dogs out first,” she called as her rational mind returned. “They’ve been inside all day.”
While waiting for his return, Marla snapped photos of the macabre gift with her cell phone. Soon the dogs quieted, and a heavy silence fell. Brianna stood nearby, staring at the item. Her young face was pale.
“Brie, why don’t you go inside? Your father will deal with this.”
“Who do you think left it for us? And where did they buy this thing? Don’t you order the heads from your suppliers?”
“Yes, but anyone can get them at a beauty supply store. Or at the party store this time of year,” Marla added. “They have various body parts for Halloween decorations.”
“Maybe this is just a prank,” Brianna said with a hopeful note.
“I doubt it. We’ve riled somebody. I haven’t a clue who it might be, though. Watch your back at school, honey. This worries me.”
When Dalton took charge, she gave a sigh of relief and headed inside to relax. Yet her body refused to cooperate. As Marla lay in bed later, her muscles remained taut and her heart beat too fast.
“Do you think it’s someone we spoke to at the football game?” she asked Dalton when he climbed in beside her. He smelled like shampoo, his hair freshly washed. Its silver strands glinted in the lamp light.
He switched channels on the bedroom TV. “I don’t see how that’s possible given the timeframe. This would have to be planned. How many local places are there where you can buy a salon head like the ones you work on?”
“Not many. I order mine online.”
“We should visit the stores tomorrow, assuming they’re open on Sunday. Maybe we can track the sale to a place around here.”
“Will you tell Detective Hanson about this development?”
“Let’s see what we discover first.”
“I promised Brie we’d go to the Halloween store. The holiday is next weekend, and she doesn’t have her costume yet.”
He put down the remote, a frown of disapproval creasing his brow. “Isn’t she too old to go out? I don’t like the idea of her roaming the streets with this business going on.”
“It’s not for trick-or-treating. She’s invited to a party, now that she doesn’t have to work at the haunted house.”
~*~
Sunday dawned bright and sunny with a balmy Florida breeze. Marla’s family took advantage of the good weather, treating the dogs to a couple of hours at the dog park. Brunch followed after the pets got dropped off at home. Finally, they headed to the Halloween store.
While Brianna selected her costume, Marla and Dalton cruised the aisles searching for styling heads like the one left on their doorstep. Marla discovered plenty of skulls and monster masks, but nothing resembling a true-to-life mannequin.
She suggested they try beauty supply stores next. Normally, she ordered her human hair heads from an online source, but local places might carry them.
They hit the jackpot at a store in Davie that carried a variety of choices. Marla skipped over the Miss Michelle Afro Head and the Mr. Brad model, but she paused at the Miss Sophia Manikin Head that sold for seventy-five dollars. Her heart thumped in excitement. The brown hair parted off-center looked similar to the one she’d received as an unwelcome gift.
“Excuse me,” she said, to the blonde at the cash register. Marla held up the head in her hand. “Has anyone bought one of these recently?”
“Let’s see, that’s Miss Sophia, right?” The clerk accessed her computer files. “Nope, I don’t see any sales for that particular model in the past month. Mr. Brad is more of a hit. He costs forty-five dollars. Would you like me to get him for you?”
Marla put the head on the counter. “No, thanks. What other stores in the area might carry this model?”
The clerk mentioned a couple of other places, plus a superstore east on Federal Highway. “Did you want to buy this gal?” she asked Marla.
“Yes, I’ll get her along with one of your tripod stands.” It might be fun to put her heads on display at the salon. If nothing else, they’d be conversation starters.
Their research took them further afield and racked up a higher bi
ll. Marla bought a Chantal head with light brown hair and a Sabrina model with blond hair. She itched to start work on them, already imagining the colors and styles she could try.
“Look at this one,” Dalton said, at the last place on their list. “It’s a balding guy. Who would want to buy him?”
“Don’t knock it. Danny looks a lot like our male clients.” Marla indicated the well-stocked shelves. “I’m going to come here for my heads hereafter. They have a huge selection.”
“The brunettes all look the same to me,” Dalton remarked in a bemused tone.
“On the contrary, their shades vary. Look, here’s another Sophia head.”
Unfortunately, her ploy to bribe the cashier for information didn’t get too far. Neither did Dalton flashing his badge. The only bonus was learning that a Sophia head had been purchased within the past week.
“I’ll get a warrant,” Dalton told her in an undertone. “Then we can access the surveillance video as well. Our bad guy made a mistake in leaving that gift for you.”
“Marla, can I get these items?” Brianna asked, dumping a pile of goods on the counter. She’d been busy shopping while they studied the mannequin heads.
“Sure, I’ll take care of it.” Marla took out her credit card and paid for the nail polishes, eye makeup, and ponytail holders that Brianna had selected.
“You shouldn’t wear too much eyeliner,” Dalton admonished his daughter. “It’ll make you look easy.”
“Really, Dad? I’m grown up now. Get over it.”
Marla hoped Brianna would have no further concerns than her appearance, grades, and social life. But in view of the history teacher’s murder, she headed to Dee’s Diner after school on Monday to chat with some of the students.
The restaurant was located in a busy shopping strip a few blocks away. From the number of cars parked in the lot, the diner looked like a popular spot. Marla entered its brightly lit interior along with Brianna, whom she’d picked up from school before heading over there.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me about this place before? It’s so quaint,” she said.
They stood inside the entrance, where Marla gawked at the decor. Decorated in fifties style, the diner had cushioned booth seating and a counter section, plus a few separate tables for large groups. Waitresses wore frilly white aprons over black dresses with pearl jewelry. From their low-cut bodices and short hems, Marla could see why school boys might hang out here.
She recognized some of the faces among a group of youths, but there was no way she could barge in there. What was the best way to make her approach?
Brianna tugged on her arm. “Come on. I know these kids.”
From the girl’s terse voice, Marla surmised this was difficult for her as well. She dutifully followed along, drawing over a chair in imitation of the teen’s action.
“Hey, guys. This is my stepmom, Marla. She’s absolutely starving, so I thought we’d stop by here. What’s good to eat?”
“I like the burgers and milkshakes,” said one girl. While Brianna engaged her in conversation, Marla waved to Jules, whom she remembered from the haunted house. He had the complexion of a ghost, as though he hibernated indoors during the school year.
“Hi, I remember you from Mr. Ripari’s house,” she called to him. “That was a terrible night.”
“Rest in peace, Mr. R-I-P Ripari,” sneered a youth at his side. This kid had a snub nose, a broad forehead, and a head of thick black hair. He regarded Marla with an unfriendly stare.
“I’m sorry, we haven’t met,” she said to him.
Jules responded. “This is my friend, Patrick.” He nudged the guy. “Mrs. Vail is married to a cop. Brie’s dad is a police detective.”
Did Marla detect a note of warning in his tone? “That’s right. I’ve heard Mr. Ripari was tutoring you in history, Patrick. I know Ricky had some trouble in his class and was wondering why he didn’t get help after hours.”
“Ricky wouldn’t put up with his crap.”
Marla, taken aback by the vehemence in Patrick’s tone, couldn’t immediately think of a comeback. “Didn’t Mr. Ripari help you as a tutor?” she asked after a moment.
“He helped himself more than he did me.”
Jules poked him again. “Patrick, be careful what you say. The man is gone. He can’t hurt anybody now.”
Marla pounced on his words. “The teacher hurt you? In what way?”
Patrick shot her a hooded glance. “What’s it to you?”
“I’m a concerned parent, especially if a student is harmed.”
“Well, don’t be. Like the dumb principal would do anything in this case. He wants Mr. Ripari’s property too badly. Principal Underwood would brag about how they were friends and how the history teacher’s will favored the school.” He snickered. “I know what kind of friends they were.”
Oh, my. Marla got an inkling of what he meant, and it made sense on many levels. But how could she get one of these people to come out and say it?
“Hey, here comes the deadly duo,” Jules proclaimed. His fingers drummed on the table, adding to his jerky motions. The guy couldn’t seem to sit still. His gaze darted about the room like a hunted rabbit.
Marla raised her head as a pair of girls arrived, ogling the fellows. Brianna came to her rescue, introducing Maya and Rose. The former barely covered her skin in a skimpy outfit and oozed sex appeal in the way she moved, while Rose dressed more demurely. Rose kissed a buff fellow on the lips. Oh, yes. Wasn’t that Shaun from the football team?
“Hi, Rose. Good to see you again. We met at the haunted house,” Marla said.
The girl gave a nervous glance at the others. “Oh, right. How are you, Mrs. Vail?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
The waitress interrupted, and Marla placed her order for a bowl of mushroom barley soup. She sat back to listen as the teens engaged in school chitchat. Brianna held her own with this bunch, but it clearly wasn’t her normal crowd. She kept glancing at the entrance as though wishing she were elsewhere.
Feeling like an outsider as well, Marla had a sudden revelation that took her breath away. Aside from Brianna, didn’t all of these kids have a reason to resent Mr. Ripari?
Chapter 6
“I think they all might be guilty,” Marla said to Nicole at work on Tuesday, after bringing her colleague up to date.
“Get out of town. You can’t believe a bunch of kids conspired to commit murder,” Nicole replied. The cinnamon-skinned stylist looked as sleek as ever in a patterned maxi-dress, her black hair clipped atop her head and her face expertly made-up. Nicole loved to read mystery novels, and Marla could always count on her to debate suspects in a logical manner.
She’d brought to work the mannequin heads and tripod stand she had purchased the day before. Hopefully, she would have a chance to work on them today. Although her schedule was full for the first few hours, maybe later she’d have some spare time.
The aroma of brewing coffee drifted her way from the coffee pot set up for customers. Robyn, their receptionist, had gone to Bagel Busters for their morning order. Everything sparkled from a fresh cleaning the night before.
Marla lined up her favorite products and plugged in her tools in preparation for the day. “The bad guy has to be a teacher, parent, or student. On the teacher side, there’s Principal Underwood. He’s hoping to gain from Mr. Ripari’s death by the provisions in his will. Underwood must mean to impress the school board. Having a generous benefactor for his facility can only be to his advantage.”
Nicole frowned at her. “I thought you said another family had filed a claim for the estate.”
“That would be the Conroys. Dalton is researching that aspect.” Marla stowed her handbag in a drawer and then stared at Nicole. “You’ve reminded me of something. The missing marriage certificate would prove their inheritance rights. It could be hidden inside the house in the woods. Mr. Ripari never lived there. After the restaurant closed, the place was shuttered.”
“Wait
, tell me the history again. I forgot the details.”
“Frank Conroy bought the land in the 1930s for agricultural use. After a drought, he sold his holdings at a steep discount to William Ripari, Senior. Ripari built a house on the estate. Years later, he leased the property to a consortium for a pioneer theme park, with the caveat that his house be preserved as a historical exhibit.”
“So he moved out at the time?”
“Yes. Anyway, when the tourist park closed, his son Joseph tore down the attractions but kept the house. He converted it into a successful restaurant. This establishment lasted until he died.”
Nicole leaned against her counter. “So what happened then?”
“Joseph’s heir—our deceased history teacher—restored the home’s furnishings that had been left in storage, but he never moved in. I’d guess his appreciation of history made him hang onto the place, until he received an offer to buy the property. The buyer’s proposal promised to save the residence as part of a living history attraction.”
“That sounds like a good compromise. How does the Conroy family fit in?”
“Frank Conroy blamed Ripari Senior for the devaluation of his land. Frank had a daughter. Rumor says Janet had a secret relationship with Ripari’s other son, Nathan.”
“They would have had to meet in secret if their fathers disapproved.”
“It’s a Romeo and Juliet thing, right? Nathan would have been our Bill Ripari’s uncle, but he was drafted to Vietnam and didn’t make it back.”
“And you think it’s Nathan who hid the marriage certificate in his family’s house?”
Marla tapped her chin in thought. “He must have believed it was the safest place at the time. If Janet kept the document, her father might have found it and annulled their marriage.”
“So it would be Janet who is filing a claim on the property?”
“We don’t know if she’s still living. She’d have to be in her seventies. It’s possible she was pregnant when Nathan left to go overseas.”
“So it could be her child who learned about their family history and wants a piece of the pie?”
Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime: Includes Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes Page 47